Fire extinguishing nozzle and distributor head



Aug. 4, 1953 Filed March 51,

2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TORS Aug. 4,, 1953 Filed March 31,

T. W. BURNAM ET AL FIRE EXTINGUISHING NOZZLE AND DISTRIBUTOR HEAD 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS may W W J fi mm Patented Aug. 4, 1953 FIRE EXTINGUISHING NOZZLE AND- DISTRIBUTOR HEAD Thompson W. Burnam, Long Beach, Calif., and- George D. Ramsay, Dallas, Tex.

Application March 31, 1949, Serial No. 84,618 I This invention relates to a nozzle or to a distributor head employed for producing a water or other liquid spray or fog in fire extinguishing operations. This application is a continuationin-part of a copending application Serial No. 672,112 filed May 24, 1946, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a nozzle or a distributor head which is intended to produce a fog, that is to break up or disperse water or other liquid into particles of substantially uniform size, substantially uniformly distributed over the zone covered by the nozzle or distributor head. While not necessarily confined thereto the nozzle and distributor heads of the present invention are particularly useful as parts of portable and stationary fire extinguishing installations.

Heretofore nozzles and distributor heads which are intended to produce fog have generally relied upon impingement of two jets of fluid emerging from orifices of equal cross-sectional area. Such devices may be made with a single pair or a plurality of pairs of such jets. These prior devices are limited in their ability to produce fog, particularly limited with respect to the ability to obtain a uniform particle size in the fog. Moreover, the prior fog producing devices have depended very largely on the shape of the nozzle or the distributor head, and in particular upon the angle of the face from which the orifice emerges indetermining the characteristics of the pattern of the fog produced. Such factors as the forward projection of the fog pattern in the direction of the flow of the fluid stream and the outward projection from the center line of the fluid system have been quite dependent in prior devices upon the particular shape of the nozzle or distributor head. The conventional type of fog nozzle or distributor head has therefore suffered severe-design limitations.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a nozzle or distributor head which will produce fog from fluids in a predetermined pattern, which pattern is essentially determined independently of the shape of the nozzle or distributor head, and particularly is essentially independent of the angular position of the face of the fog nozzle or distributor head from which the fluid fog-producing jets emerge. In the nozzles and distributor heads of the present invention we employ at least three openings disposed in a common plane as distinguished from the main conventional use of merely two openings .or jets.

The objects of the present invention are obs Claims. (01. 299-143) tained by the regulation of the spaces of the orifices relative to each other, the angular relationship of the orifices, and the relative areas of the orifices. The relation between these factors which accomplishes the novel objects of the present invention can be expressed in a number of ways. One method of establishing the desired relationship is by reference to a suitable energyvector diagram. The necessary relationship of the factors which determine the novelty of the present invention may also be described independently of such diagrams.

In the nozzles and distributor heads of the present invention there is always provided at least three openings disposed in a common plane. The axes of two of such openings are considered to intersect each other at a point remote from the face of the nozzle. The axis of the third opening passes to one side of the point of intersection of the axes of the first two mentioned openings. While the axis of the third opening must lie to the side of the point of intersection of the first two openings, it must not lie too far to the side of the first two openings. To eifect a suitable breaking up of the fluid leaving the three orifices it is found that the axis of the third opening could not be spaced further from the point of intersection of the axes of the first two openings than a distance equal to twice the diameter of the third opening. It is also generally found that the axis of the third opening must be disposed in convergent relation with respect to the other two axes and while its axis must lie at a side of the point of intersection of the axes of the first two openings, it should generally intersect a triangle with its apex at the point 'of intersection of the first two openings, which triangle has an apex angle equal to the angle between the axes of the first two openings and has an altitude not greater than the sum of the diameters of the first two openings. In this relationship normally a column of water emitted from the third opening will impinge upon the merged central portions of the columns of water emitted from the other two impinging columns.

Another requirement which contributes to the efliciency of a nozzle of the three-orifice type herein described is that the angle between the axes of the first two orifices of the nozzle which intersect at the point closest to the face of the tween the axis of the third orifice and the axis of the orifice adjacent thereto.

.in shape,

The properties sought by the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the preferred examples of nozzles and distributor heads embodying the invention. We have, therefore, hereafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings the preferred forms or examples of nozzles or distributor heads embodying the principles of this invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation in section of a form of the nozzle;

Figure 2 is a similar elevation in section of another form of the nozzle;

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrative of the angular relationships of one of the set of three orifices of the nozzle of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a somewhat similar diagram of am other of the relationships;

Figure 5 is a similar diagram of a still further type of relationship;

"Figure 6 is a further diagram of the angular properties of the orifices;

homogeneous spray or fog in an approximately conical pattern, the con being practically free from large areas of voids.

The nozzle, as indicated at Figure 1, is conical the figure representing a section through the longitudinal plane thereof. It is provided'with threads 2 for connection to a source of fluid supply. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart sets of orifices 3 are provided in the first tapered section of the body I and there is preferably provided a second set of orifices 3 circumferentially spaced apart around the second tapered section 6 of the body.

Referring again to the drawings, we show in Figure 2 another form of nozzle of the present invention, in which the slope of the face, CD is radically different from that in the form of the device shown in Figure l and previously described. In Figure 2 the indicated device is particularly adapted for portable use as attached to a hose, leader, applicator pipe or other source of fluid supply, but also is equally adaptable for use in a fixed piping system as a source of fluid supply.

In the device as shown in Figure 2 the nozzle body I is circular in cross-section but may be of any convenient cross-section. The nozzle body is provided with a threaded portion 8 for connection to a source of fluid supply. Orifices 9 are provided for the emergence of the fluid; said orifices being a plurality of sets of three around the face if! of the'device. Other orifices also in sets of three are similarly disposed about an upper face i I of the device. While as described and illustrated in Figure '2 this form of the devices of our present invention utilize a plurality of sets of three orifices, such devices are not confined thereto, but may be made up of a plurality of sets of more than three orifices.

Each set of three converging orifices of both the nozzles of Figure l and of Figure 2 are constructed in accordance with certain angular relationships of their axes relative to each other and relationships between their orifices as hereafter if described. Referring first to Figure 3, which conforms more strictly with the orifices t of Figure than with the other sets of orifices of the po ies of Figure 1 and Figure 2, we have illustrate such figure one of the desired angular relat ships it being understood, however, that similar principles are preferably applied to each other set of orifices. As illustrated in Figure 3, x, y and 2 indicate the axes of the three orifices. For illustration purposes a suitable size of diameter for orifices intersect at a point which is remote the face of the section 6 containing the o. and that the axis .2 passes at one side of the point of intersection of the axes :c and y but that the distance between the point of intersection of the axes m and y and axis a is not greater than twice the diameter of the orifice having the axis a. In the particular illustration given this distance as indicated on the drawing is 10/32 and hence is less than twice the diameter of the orifice having axis 2, which is indicated to be 7/32.

Now referring more particularly to Figure 4 of the drawings it will be observed that the axis 2 intersects the shaded triangle on the drawing, which triangle has its apex at the point of intersection of the axes r and y and has an angle the same as the angle between axes .r and y and an altitude which is not greater than the sum of the diameters of the orifices having axes a: and y. In the particular case illustrated such a sum is 11/32 and the shaded triangle has, therefore, an altitude of 11/32. It will thus be seen that in the preferred nozzle at least two requirements of the spacing between the axis a and the point of intersection of axes x and y are required, that is (a) that it be not greater than twice the diameter of the orifice having axis 2, and (b) that it be :not greater than the sums of the diameters of the orifices having axes LL and 1;.

Figure v5 illustrates a further condition found present in most nozzles constructed in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in this figure the shaded area represents the zone of contact of the columns of fluid emitted from the orifice having axes :r and y. Normally it is desirable that some portion at least of the column of fiuid emitted from the orifice having axis 2 impinge upon this zone, which may be considered as the merged central portion of the columns of water emitted from the first two orifices, or as the cone of confluence of the first two columns of fiuid emitted from the orifices having axes a: and y.

Now referring more particularly to Figures 6 and 7 in which Figure 6 more nearly follows the set of orifices 4 of Figure 1, and in which Figure 7 followed more nearly the angular relationship of a set of orifices of the nozzle of Figure 2, we have indicated a further desirable relationship between the angles of the orifices. The orifices y and a, in addition to being disposed in convergent relation are preferably arranged so that the angle between the pair of axes which intersect most nearly the face of the nozzle is not less than 5 but not more than 20 greater than the angle between the axis of the third orifice and the axis of the orifice adjacent thereto. Thus as illustrated in Figure 6 the angle between orifices :c and 3 which may be 40, is greater than the angle between the axes 2 and y, which is 27, the difference between the angles being 13 and hence lying between the limits of 5 and 20. As illustratd in Figure '7 the angle between axes r and y is "10 while the angle between axes z and y is 50,

or a difference of 20, thus fulfilling the requirement that the difference should not be greater than 20.

Now referring more particularly to Figure 8 of the drawings, we have illustrated certain mathematical relationships which are desirably followed in the nozzle in connection with a socalled energy-vector diagram, the energy-vector diagram following the nozzle of Figure 1. As illustrated in such diagram the three orifices have respective angles k, l and m. The mathematical determination of the design of the nozzle is made as follows:

1. Lay out to scale the three orifices, with their center lines lying in a common plane, on a system of plane coordinates; with the direction of water flow through the device shown as O Y, the intersection of the plane of the face of the device (or a plane on the face and around to the center lines of the orifices) and the common plane to the center line of the orifices is shown in Figure 8 as A B. (In Figure 1 this line is shown as A B.)

2. Prolong the center lines of the center and the lower orifices to their point of intersection PI. The point is known as the point of impingement of the fluid jets emerging from these orifices.

3. The total energy of the jets emerging from the orifices is proportional to the cross-sectional areas of the orifices. Then at the point of impingement, Pl constructs a vector to scale, Pl P2, of an assumed length of 1.00 rep-resenting the total energy of the center jet. From the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the lower jet to that of the center jet construct the vector PI P3, its length being in proportion to 1.00 as the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the lower and the middle jet determine the resultant Pl P4 of the two energy-vectors. From the point P4, construct the vector P5 parallel to the center line of the upper orifice and its length determined by the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the upper jet to that of the center jet. Prolong the vector Pl P4 to P6; P4 P6 being equal in length to Pl P4. Determine the second resultant P4 P7.

4. The devices of our present invention are' those, which, when analyzed by the energy-vector diagram method just described, using a scale on which the dimensions are ten times the actual dimensions of the device, result in the location, of the resultant point P1 having the following coordinates:

X from 5 to 9 Y from 2 to I2 We desire to state that the above method using energy-vector diagrams, is only figurative; that is, we do not claim that the fluid particles emerging from the orifices and producing the fog pattern actually follow the pattern of the vector diagrams. However, since the vector diagram correlates the relationship of (a) jet energy; (b) orifice angular relationship; and (c) orifice spacing of the multiple orifice set, it may be used as a practical and simple mathematical and engineering method to define the devices of our present invention.

A practical explanation of the physical results obtained by actual streams of water discharged from the orifices in the direction shown in Figs. 6 and 8 would indicate that the path of water, although not being along the vectors as shown in Fig. 8, would have the general direction thereof. The streams of water discharging from the lower orifices would meet and intermingle,

'the'energy therein going to disperse the water in small droplets. The mingling would take place in a zone of confluence at the point of impingement andimmediately therebeyond. To produce the effect of directing and projecting the cloud offog particles, the third stream from the upper orifice must strike the merged streams at the outer edge of the zone of confluence. The energy of the third stream will then produce velocity in the total stream in the direction of the vector P4, P1, shown in Fig. 8. The result of this combination of orifices is to project the fog in a previously determined direction, thus greatly enhancing the usefulness of the fog nozzle for extinguishing fires.

While the nozzles and distributor heads shown herein are well adapted to carry out the objects and advantages of the present invention, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made, and this invention includes all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A nozzle for producing a fog comprising a hollow cone having a plurality of sets of openings in the inclined wall thereof, each of said sets comprising at least three openings disposed in a common plane to form impinging jets, the axes of two of the openings of each set intersecting each other at a point remote from the face of the cone and the axis of the third opening passing at one side of said point of intersection but no further removed therefrom than a distance equal to twice the diameter of said third opening.

2. A nozzle for producing fog comprising a closed and hollow body having a plurality of sets of openings in the side wall thereof, each of said sets comprising at least three openings forming impinging jets, the axes of two of said openings intersecting at a point and the axis of the third opening being no further removed from said point of intersection than the sum of the diameters of the first-named openings.

3. A nozzle for producing fog comprising a conical hollow body having a plurality of sets of openings in the side wall thereof, each of said sets comprising at least three openings arranged in aligned and substantially equi-spaced relation to form impinging jets, the axes of two of said openings in each set intersecting each other at a point remote from the face of the conical body and the axis of the third opening being disposed in convergent relation with respect to the axis of the adjacent one of said two openings, the angle between the axis of the third opening and the axis of the adjacent opening being less than the angle between said intersecting axes, the sum of said angles being no greater than one hundred and twenty degrees and no less than seventy degrees.

4. A nozzle for producing fog comprising a hollow body having a pluralityof sets of openings for the delivery of cylindrical columns of water, each of said sets comprising three openings, two of the openings of each of said sets having converging axes, the columns of water emitted therefrom impinging at the intersection of said axes, and the third opening of said sets having its axis intersecting the outer edge of the cone of confluence of the first-named columns.

5. A nozzle for producing fog comprising a hollow body having a plurality of sets of openings for the delivery of cylindrical columns of water,

each of said sets comprising three openings, two of the openings :of each of said sets .having converging axes, the columns of water emitted therefrom impinging at the intersection of said axes, and the third opening of said sets having its axis directed toward the first-named axes and passing beyond the point of intersection thereof but within the impinged column of water emitted from the first and second openings.

THOMPSON W. BURNAM.

GEORGE D. RAMSEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number K 2,311,266 2,343,305 2,499,092 

